Journal de santé et d'informatique médicale

Thirty Years of Perinatal Care in Portugal

Abstract

Manuel RG Carrapato*,Ana Azevedo,Joana Rodrigues,Fátima Fonseca

 From the daunting figures for maternal, perinatal and infant mortalities and morbidities of the past, in the last three

to four decades, Portugal has set remarkable standards of care with the gratifying results of, either overlapping or even surpassing, those of many of the western countries. This is the case for maternal mortality at just over 5-8/100,000 live births per year and perinatal mortality at below 5/1.000 live births, in the last ten years. Although a decrease in maternal and perinatal mortalities has also been achieved in all European countries Portugal was one of those with the most significant falls. Rationalization of human and financial resources was instrumental, with sophisticated technologies playing a subsidiary role for the high risk pregnancies and sick neonates. Above all, it has been a successful example of collaboration and goodwill between professionals and politicians alike regardless of the, often, conflicting interests.